Favorite Links

Aug 31, 2006

RECALLS

* South Korea - DaimlerChrysler Recalls TrucksSEOUL,S.Korea -The Korea Times/Yonhap -31 Aug 206: --DaimlerChrysler Korea, a local unit of the German carmaker, recalled 11 types of Actros trucks it imported and sold in South Korea due to defects that could inflict injuries on drivers, government officials said Wednesday... The trucks affected include six Actros modelsproduced between December 2003 and March 2006. They reportedly have defects in their air conditioning systems that, in the worst case scenario, could catch fire...

DANGEROUS DRIVERS WORLDWIDE

* Australia - Removalist crushed between trucksSydney,Australia -The Advertiser Adelaide (Adelaide,South Australia)/AAP -August 31, 2006: --A Sydney removalist has been crushed to death between two reversing trucks... The 19-year-old's body was found by colleagues at a business on Victoria Road in inner-western Marrickville about 8.30am (AEST) today, police said...The man had been working on one of the two removalist trucks... The vehicles had been parked, with their backs facing each other...Police said the truck drivers reversed at the same time...

* USA - Lumber truck crash shuts ParadiseDriveNovato,CA,USA -Marin Independent/Journal -31 Aug 2006: --Paradise Drivewas shut down for more than an hour Wednesday after a 48-foot tractor trailer carrying a load of lumber went off the road in Tiburon...The crash occurred at 2 p.m. above the Paradise Cay neighborhood, where the trailer of a Golden State Lumbertruck slipped off a curve in the road, dragging the cab down with it, said OfficerMary Ziegenbein of the California Highway Patrol...The rig flipped and slid about 50 feet down an embankment...

Bottlenecks at the border - USA - No relief in sight for longer lines

San Diego,CA,USA -The San Diego Tribune, by Diane Lindquist -30 Aug 206: --Although no official statistics track delays at the border, people who cross say they are waiting longer this unusually hot summer, and border officials agree...While U.S. Customs and Border Protectionsays it is doing all it can to move people along swiftly, the reality is improvement might not occur until the San Ysidro port of entry is expanded and a third border crossing opens. That is years away...The bottleneck of cargo trucks at theOtay Mesa commercial crossingalso has grown longer.The average wait is three to five hours and sometimes more, said Juan González, a driver for G&S Express trucking, who recently was ferrying a load of fresh-picked produce across the border...The only possibility of a relatively swift border passage are the special fast-pass SENTRI lanes for passenger vehicles and FAST lanes for cargo trucks. Vehicles enrolled in the SENTRI program normally pass through the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa port of entries in fewer than 15 minutes... The only real relief, however, will be expanding the San Ysidro crossing by shifting southbound traffic to the old Virginia Avenue-El Chaparral commercial crossing and building a new border crossing east of the Otay Mesa port of entry, called Otay II...(Photo: by PEGGY PEATTIE / Union-Tribune - Delays at San Ysidro and Otay Mesa crossings cost more than $8 billion annually. Traffic backups are longer than ever before at the San Ysidro port of entry from Mexico into the United States, as well as at the Otay Mesa crossing. Two-hour delays for autos are common, and trucks at the Otay Mesa commercial crossing wait much longer)

Jobs - USA - Many industries rely on dispatchers

Washington,DC,USA -Scripps News, by M.B. OWENS -30 Aug 2006: --If you are looking for a career in demand by many different industries, some involving life and death, take a look at becoming a dispatcher... The expanding economy will demand continued job growth for this occupation in every size community, though most opportunities remain in urban areas. Both the public and private sectors will need the services... Dispatchers are involved with scheduling or dispatching people, vehicles, and equipment for all types of purposes. They usually monitor calls and keep up with the progress of those they dispatch, often utilizing computers and other communication devices... Employers include trucking firms, contractors, plumbing businesses, taxicab companies, electrical utilities and emergency service organizations. The latter consists of police, fire and medical personnel such as EMTs...

"Trucking's Wall of Fame" - Australia - New inductees on

Alice Springs,Australia -Australasian Transport News (subscription) -30 August 2006: --Fifty-two Australian transport pioneerswere inducted into the National Road Transport Hall of Fame in Alice Springs last Saturday... The five-day celebration attracted more than 500 transport industry magnates and truckies alike from around the country to honour the nation’s rich road transport heritage and pay tribute to Australian transport pioneers...Road Transport Historical Society PresidentLiz Martin says she is inspired by the scope of inductees...

"If we don't act now, all of a sudden we'll get to that point where there's no bananas or no bread in the store"Toronto,Ontario,Canada -Canadian Business magazine, by Sarah B. Hood -Originally published: April 23, 2006: --Warns Jeff Kirby. "In five years, everybody will be in an uproar, and it will take three to five years to get everything back to normal."...Kirby, president of Ontario-basedAltruck Idealease, a division ofKirby International Trucks Ltd., is referring to the alarming shortage of long-haul truck drivers...In January, Statistics Canada reported that 18% of Canadian truck drivers are 55 or older (compared with 13% of the general workforce). And according to the Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council, the industry, which employs more than 500,000 people, needs to attract 30,000 to 45,000 new drivers annually, but in recent years has hired only between 5,700 and 18,100... "It's probably fair to say that the days of calling your shipper and saying 'I need it there tomorrow' are over," saysBruce Richards,president of thePrivate Motor Truck Council of Canada."A lot of manufacturers take raw materials on a just-in-time delivery, but if you don't have the capacity or supply, you're going to have to do some speculating and ordering in advance of your norm."...

Hazardous Health - USA - Tires can be home to mosquitoes, rats

Beloit,WI,USA -Beloit Daily News -Aug 28, 2006: --Approximately 240 million tires are discarded every year in the United States, millions of those in Wisconsin alone... When piled in yeards, fields and businesses, tires are an eyesore, but they are also much more. RockCounty Health Department EnvironmentalHealth Director Timothy Banwell says they are hazardous to the health of citizens... “Old tires provide a home to pests, including mosquitoes and rodents. They can be a fire hazard as well,”Banwell said. “It makes good sense to dispose of tires properly to prevent illness.” ...The risks associated with burning tires are dangerous. Acrid black smoke from burning tires can pollute the air, and the oily substance produced while they burn can contaminate streams, rivers and ground water...

Owner Operators - USA - Barr-Nunn introduces new payment program for

USA -eTrucker, By Brittani Tingle, 29 Aug 2006: --Barr-Nunn Transportationis now offering a pay package for owner-operators designed to help stabilize drivers’ pay and make the business of managing a truck easier...The new program for Northeast regional owner-operators will guarantee drivers $425 per day, $1.19 fuel protection and 100 percent fuel surcharge. The company also is offering payment of excess fuel taxes and guaranteed home time...

Layoffs - USA - Diesel maker plans 417 ones

Automaker Ford's woes have ripple effect on Powerstroke supplier International TruckIndianapolis,IN,USA -The Indianapolis Star, by Ted Evanoff -August 29, 2006: --... On Oct. 2, about a third of Dobson's co-workers will be laid off whenInternational Truck and Engine, based in Melrose Park, Ill., idles 417 of its 1,100 local employees... Internationalalready had scheduled three weeks of late-summer downtime to accommodate slumpingFordorders. Then,Fordsuddenly decided to cut fourth-quarter auto production 21 percent to avoid paying heavy consumer incentives to keep sales rolling...Now,Internationalintends to lay off what amounts to an entire shift until orders rebound from its only customer, Ford'sKentucky Truckplant at Louisville..."This is being driven by truck production cuts at Ford,"Internationalspokesman Anthony Page said. "When we call people back, it'll be based on demand for the new engine."...

5 Reasons - USA - To use a professional moving service

Murphy,NC,USA -Cherokee Sentinel -30 Aug 2006: --Did you know that the average person will move approximately 11 times in his or her lifetime? According to Moving.com, a moving resource, relocation ranks as one of the most stressful events in life...Strange how we're apt to do it so often, then... Part of the stress involved in moving, in addition to finding a newer, larger or better homestead in your price range, is packing and getting all of the stuff you've accumulated over the last several years to your new locale. Many homeowners think that this is a task best handled by themselves.However, you might find that using a professional moving service is more advantageous in the long run... Here's why: 1. Speed... -2. Cost... 3. Breakage... 4. Equipment... 5. Recovery time...

Operators Slam - UK - New Vehicles' Poor Braking

UK -Transport News Network, by Peter Shakespeare -30 Aug 2006: --The vast majority of hauliers think that truck and trailer manufacturers should supply new vehicles with proof that brake systems meet MOT braking efficiency standards. VOSA should also raise its game...Many of you will have noticed that in last month's Roadway there was a fax-back survey that focused on commercial vehicle braking efficiency and MOT test failure, an issue the RHA knows is causing problems within the industry... Poor brake test figures are the second highest reason for annual test failure, and the survey confirmed that many of your new vehicles fail at the first annual test due to low brake efficiency... Another issue concerns triaxle trailers. Many are built with spring brakes on two axles only, with standard brake chambers on the third axle. This often leads to low parking brake performance when all axle readings are combined and assessed against gross vehicle weight... There are major concerns that the MOT test pass values leave no room for error and VOSA's testing equipment is inaccurate...

Drivers' Warn - UK - Study: Drowsy Driver Warning

UK -Transport News Network -30 Aug 2006: --Hauliers that drink high sugar, low caffeine drinks in an attempt to stave off tiredness, should think again, that's the opinion of a leading UK think-tank... This was the finding of research performed at the University of Loughborough and published in the Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental... Ten healthy adults volunteered to restrict their sleep to five hours on the day before participating in the trial. An hour after eating a light lunch they were given either an energy drink (42g sugar + 30mg caffeine) or an identically tasting zero-sugar drink. They then performed a monotonous 90-minute test during the afternoon 'dip' that assessed their sleepiness and ability to concentrate... For the first 30 minutes there was no difference in the reaction times or error rates, but 50 minutes after consuming the drinks, the performance of those who had had the energy drink started to slip, and they became significantly sleepier... Other research work shows that high-energy drinks that contain caffeine will boost concentration... "A 'sugar rush' is not very effective in combating sleepiness - so avoid soft drinks that contain lots of sugar but little or no caffeine," explains Professor Jim Horne, who runs the Sleep Research Centre at the University of Loughborough. "A much better way to combat sleepiness is to have a drink that contains more useful amounts of caffeine and combine this with a short nap".

Template? - Germany - Road Charging Scheme for Europe

Berlin,Germany -Transport News Network (UK) -30 Aug 2006: --Germany’s Ministry of Transport has predicted that its highly controversial road charging scheme LKW Maut, could be used as template for road charging across Europe...The system has what it takes to manage traffic and raise revenue without the need to build more roads...The German Ministry of Transport says it views road pricing as "an inevitable tool" for road management and the easing of pollution in countries around Europe...Since 2005, Toll Collect has been operating a charge system on behalf of the German Transport Ministryfor trucks weighing 12 tonnes or more on what is the largest motorway network in Europe... The German scheme's introduction resulted in increased costs to the haulage industry of up to 8per cent...Although there were letters of protest at the start of the scheme, 322,000 German trucks and 180,000 vehicles registered outside Germany are now equipped with on-board units...* Hungary - Plans Road Charging for HGVsBudapest,Hungary -Transport News Network (UK) -30 Aug 2006: -- The Economy and Transport Ministry wants to charge trucks weighing over 7.5 toness for using more than 50 of Hungary's main roads, most of them trans-border routes... Drivers avoiding the payment would face heavy fines and penalties would also be levied on drivers who make diversions from the main roads and use secondary roads...The plan, which is still awaiting approval, would be a base to introduce an electronic road toll payment system based on distance travelled rather than a fixed fee. The earliest date likely for introducing the electronic payment system is the start of 2008...* UK -"Lorry Road User Charge: a debacle in the making"London,UK -Transport News Network (UK) -30 Aug 2006: --The Government's Lorry Road User Chargeis a proposal to change the way that lorries are taxed... The idea is to charge a fee for every mile / kilometre that a lorry drives on UK roads... The reason for this scheme is to attract revenue from foreign trucks that use the UK roads and, at present, do not pay for this use...This paper suggests using standard Internet technology at a fraction of the cost of the Government’s over complex solution... * Belgium - Europe's Cabotage DoublesBrussels,Belgium --Transport News Network (UK) -30 Aug 2006: --Cabotage conducted by foreign registered vehicles across Europe has grown dramatically since the relaxation of the associated regulations in 1998...Latest figures released through the European Commission show that there has been a 13% increase in one year in the level of cabotage being undertaken within the UK before foreign registered trucks head back across the water...Germany, Holland and Belgium are reportedly the most active 'caboteurs', accounting for just under half of the total cabotage performed across Europe. The UK is also the main target for cabotage carried out by hauliers coming in from Southern Ireland...

GreenNews - Norway - First Hydrogen Highway

Oslo,Norway -Transport News Network -30 Aug 2006: --Norway has opened its first hydrogen filling station, moving a step closer to creating a green highway between the capital Oslo and the port of Stavanger...The country is pioneering an initiative entitledHyNor, with the initial ambition of building five refuelling stations along the 360-mile route, which forms the backbone of its petroleum industry... Despite being the third largest exporter of oil in the world, behind only Saudi Arabia and Russia, Norway is keen to commit to sustainable fuels in order to set an environmental precedent, cut down on transport emissions and combat climate change...

New system - UK - To help authorities for safe speed limits.

UK -Transport News Network -30 Aug 2006: --A British company has developed a new system to help local authorities determine safe speed limits...The company, 3D Laser Mappinghas developed a vehicle-based 3D laser mapping system, road safety conditions can be computed automatically for any stretch of highway... In rural areas, the system's electronic eye provides a rapid and cost-effective surveying method to provide a standard for road safety assessment. This will allow authorities to implement speed restrictions based on more accurate and complete information, eliminating inconsistencies...

TRANSPORTS NEWS WORLDWIDE

* UK -Storm Clouds Ahead for Logistics IndustryUK -Transport News Network (UK) -30 Aug 2006: --Companies specialising in providing logistics services have done well in recent years, but the future prospects for the industry are not so certainaccording to independent market analyst Datamonitor's(DTM.L) latest research "Logistics Benchmarking and Profiler 2006."...The report reveals revenues for third-party logistics providers (3PLs) have continued to rise, driven by an improved economic climate and companies outsourcing non-core activities to try and reduce costs. However, the report concludes that knock-on effects of economic factors, oil and the collapse of the Doha round of trade discussions may cause significant problems for this sector in the near future...Moreover, while the unique Global Scorecard included in the report rates each logistics company and shows there are clear leaders, it also reveals that a number will have to alter their strategies in the future in order to survive...* USA - Securing The Rails & TrucksUSA -AFX/Forbes, by Eric LaBat -29 Aug 2006: --A global economy requires an efficient and effective transportation system. The ability to quickly and safely deliver goods in a dependable manner is paramount...From a homeland security standpoint, it is easy to see how telematics could be easily integrated to enhance security at a regional, national and even global level without slowing down delivery times... Similartelematics could be integrated into all other types of freight systems and carriers, including trucks, trailers, ships and containers. With the present driver shortage in the trucking industry--turnover has reached 120% annually--telematics can help with driver retention as well as enhance the security of transportation workers...In addition, as container traffic in the U.S. reaches dramatic congestion levels at key locations on the East and West coasts, tracking containers can help make pooling and fleet reduction a reality and help move containers beyond simple security checks at ports...

Award - UK - Sainsbury's Win 'Be Good to Bikers'

UK -Transport News Network -29 Aug 2006: --... organisers have announced that supermarket giantSainsbury'shave won this year'sKillSpills / BMF Award for 'Achievement in Reducing diesel Spills'...Sainsbury’swon the award against stiff competition from other supermarkets, road hauliers and utility companies for their proactive role in tackling diesel spills...Also commended for their work on diesel spill prevention are the Co-op Wholesale Society for the work they have done in briefing their staff as to the dangers diesel spills represent and Spar (CJ Lang, in Scotland) for amending their driver training programme to include the dangers of diesel spills...Diesel spillage is an important issue that has been ignored for too long say the BMF, September 9th is designed to change all that...

Production - Malaysia - Hyundai to make trucks in

Malaysia -Business Times (Mal), by Zuraimi Abdullah -August 30 2006: --Hyundai Motor Cohas chosen Malaysia over other countries in South-East Asia to site the local production of its Hyundai Mighty HD series of trucks...Hyundai, South Korea's largest carmaker and the world's number six, will start assembling the high-tech medium truck at partner Sime Darby Bhd outfit Inokom Corp Sdn Bhd's plant in Kulim, Kedah, early next year...

Production - Belarus - Maz Plans Euro 4 and 5 Trucks

Minsk,Belarus -Transport News Network (UK) -29 Aug 2006: --Belarus' state-ownedMinsk Automobile Plant, Maz, plans to start making trucks to Euro 4 emission standards in 2007, according to a recent statement by Vladimir Korol, the firm's deputy sales and marketing director...Trucks to Euro 5 standards are due in 2008...Mazis the largest producer of heavy trucks in the former Soviet Union with a 35% share of the Russian market...

Strike - India - Truckers Plan All-country Stir

Namakkal,India -Report: Newindpress.com/Transport News Network (UK) - 29 Aug 2006: --It's not just the UK haulage industry that are suffering thanks to the increasing price of fuel. Hauliers in India are facing similar problems... Reacting sharply to hike in price of petrol and diesel theLorry Owners Association of Tamil NaduandNamakkal Taluk Lorry Owners Associationhave announced that they were considering an all India Strike... Talking to the website's newspaper, K Nallthambi, secretary, Namakkal Truck Owners Association, said that talks were on with state-level and national-level federations of truck owners' associations about highlighting the adverse impact of the price hike of fuel on the truck industry and the economy as a whole...

SPRINGFIELD,IL, USA -The Bloomington Pantagraph, by Kurt Erickson -August 29, 2006: --Illinois’ latest foray into the fight against terrorism will have state troopers taking an extra look at commercial trucks rolling through the Prairie State... Next month, theIllinois State Police will launch a $145,000 program dubbed Operation Desert Snowthat will train police departments how to conduct detailed roadside interviews, identify suspicious vehicles and detect signs that a vehicle has been altered to create hidden storage compartments...(Picture: Springfield City, Illinois - The City in Brief)

Security - USA - CBP aiming new system at southern border

USA -Fleet Owner -Aug 29, 2006: -- TheU.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)agency is tapping Los Angeles-based military contractorNorthrop Grumman Corp.to expand its Border Security Development Program (BSDP) to ports of entry along the southern U.S. border... The BSDP, which is fully deployed at more than 124 land ports of entry along the northern border with Canada, is a multi-faceted surveillance and intrusion detection system designed for land ports of entry. TheCBPsaid its contract withNorthrop Grummanincludes the development of new border security technologies, including digital imagery, motion detection and remote monitoring capabilities...

Trucks Owners' Warn - South Africa - 3 held in R25m trucking 'scam'

Krugersdorp,South Africa -News24 -29 Aug 2006: --Two men and a woman appeared briefly in Krugersdorp magistrate's court on Tuesday on charges of fraud involving about R25m, said the national prosecuting authority... The three were suspected of conducting a fraudulent scheme targeting the trucking industry...Nkosi said: "The three are alleged to be placing advertisements in the media, claiming an excellent business opportunity in long-distance transport, and also promising finance for the purchase of trucks... The woman allegedly made appointments for the victims to meet with another suspect, said to be the marketing manager...the 'marketing manager' apparently said SHL helped prospective transport contractors to buy trucks, and that the company arranged financing for this... They apparently were told that if a prospective contractor found a suitable truck and trailer for under R500 000, SHL would then help in financing the truck... Nkosi said victims alleged that SHL guaranteed a minimum of 14 000km a month at an extremely profitable rate and that SHL would also supply fuel and toll cards... "A truck would be ready to start operating within two weeks after payment of a deposit of R51 000, they were allegedly told."...After paying the deposit they received neither the trucks, the contracts nor their money back as a result of SHL's non-performance, he said...(Picture: The Waterberg region of the Highveld is one of South Africa’s premier wildlife areas)

Servicing - USA - UK factor adds U.S. trucking services

USA -Fleet Owner -Aug 29, 2006: --A business unit dedicated to providing factoring services to the U.S. trucking industry has been launched byBibby Financial Services, the largest independent factor in the United Kingdom... Based in Nashville, the new trucking industry group offers both recourse and non-recourse factoring for freight bills that can be integrated with fuel card ATM access. It also offers fleet customers fuel tax reporting, driver log auditing, document drop and scanning services and discounted insurance, according to the company... Having funded over $5 billion in receivables last year for over 6,000 clients,Bibby Financial Services has established a variety of niche factoring services in the U.K., Canada, Australia, Poland, France and Ireland, as well as the U.S...

Government Incentives - USA - City OKs for trucking company

Lexington,NC,USA -The Lexington Dispatch, by GLEN BAITY -August 29. 2006: --The Lexington City Council on Monday night followed suit with the Davidson County Commissioners' decision last week to give incentives to a trucking company with plans to locate in the city...The council unanimously approved a package totaling more than $61,300 for U.S. Xpress Enterprises Inc... The Chattanooga, Tenn.-based company plans to move into an existing site in Lexington in the coming months, bringing with it no less than 60 jobs to start in the new facility...(Picture: Woods Creek Stream Restoration and Watershed Protection, City of Lexington)

Aug 30, 2006

Woman Motorists - USA - Most of the People Who Die in Large Truck Crashes aren’t Truckers

USA - WomanMotorist.com (USA)/Courtesy www.IIHS.org -29 Aug 2006: --Single unit trucks or tractors pulling one or more trailers qualify as large if they weigh more than 10,000 pounds. Potential hazards of these vehicles involve both their drivers; particularly how long they work at a stretch, and the equipment including the brakes...(Follow questions & repplies)Do large trucks have high crash rates? ... Are rigs hazardous, or is the problem mostly drivers? ... Can monitoring of truck driving hours be improved? ... Are licensing requirements rigorous for truckers? ... Who dies in large truck crashes? ... How good (or bad) are truck brakes? ...

Transport job - USA - Not your average

Ventura Transfer Companydrivers move things the general public can't even pronounceLong Beach,CA,USA -Long Beach Press-Telegram, by Kristopher Hanson -29 Aug 2006: --The trucking and transportation industry isn’t necessarily glamorous or sexy, but it’s critical to our economy and way of life...In the greater Long Beach area, shipping, warehousing and transloading is big business, with trucks, trains and cargo ships moving millions of products to consumers and businesses across the country... Within this sprawling industry, there’s a specially trained and licensed niche responsible for handling some of the most unusual and dangerous cargo around...Long Beach-basedVentura Transfer Companyis one of these businesses...(Photo: by Steven Georges/Press-Telegram - Brian Oken, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ventura Transfer Company in Long Beach, explains methods and type of containers his company uses to transfer a variety of materials around the world)

STOCKHOLM,Sweden -AFX/Forbes -28 Aug. 2006: -- Stockholm shares closed slightly higher reversing earlier weakness as the oil price decline accelerated, easing fears about US economic growth, dealers said...VolvoB closed up 0.87 pct at 404.50. It said deliveries from its truck operations, which include Volvo Trucks, Mack and Renault Trucks, rose 3 pct in the period from January to July to 129,654, compared with the year-earlier period...

Truckers - USA - Don't blame us

Hackensack,NJ,USA -NorthJersey.com, by TOM DAVIS -August 28, 2006: --From their 7-foot-high perch, truckers have a wide and majestic view... What they see, however, is often narrow and ugly...Pesky cars cut them off. Concrete dividers loom too close... Critics say truckers are reckless and make the roads unsafe. But with accidents on the rise, truck drivers say they struggle to cope in a world that works against them...Just two weeks ago, a truck carrying about 40 tons of bricks and traveling on Route 95 in Teaneck rear-ended a car and turned over in an accident that left four dead...As roads get busier, they get more dangerous, truckers say... Truckers, however, say the highways would be safer if they could lead easier lives... Those who drive long distances work for five or six hours straight, or longer. They live on greasy truck-stop food. They go weeks without seeing their families... More than anything, they need rest. Federal law bars them from driving more than 11 hours straight. But finding the right opportunity to take a break is hard...Many truckers are paid by the mile or by the load, so they have to keep driving. If people want food in their supermarket, it's got to get there, they say..."No matter what you get, you got it from us,"Langford said. "Otherwise, you'd be homeless and hungry."...(Photo by JAMES W. ANNESS / THE RECORD)

Trucking analyst - USA - Buy 'Em If You Need 'Em

LOMBARD, Ill.,USA -Today's Trucking (Canada) -28 Aug 2006: --Booming truck sales record of 2006 is demand driven, says North American trucking market research firm MacKay & Co..."Forget the 'pre-buy,' fleets are buying trucks because they need more trucks," says PresidentStu MacKay...After three quarters of year-over-year decreases, a second quarter survey shows 0.4 point increase in Class 6-8 utilization to record 88.7 percent, surpassing the previous second quarter high set a year ago...

USA - Today's Trucking News (Canada), by Scott Taylor -28 August 2006: --These days, truck owners are doing anything they can to save a buck on fuel. But before you strip off your bug deflector, you should plot your fuel stops and find out what you really pay for diesel. It might change your approach to where you fill up your tanks...When you buy diesel, part of the price is taxes. The United States and Canada both levy a federal tax that's uniform across each respective country. In Canada, you pay GST or HST as well... What you can do is buy as much fuel as possible from states and provinces with the best net price. You can see our free and regularly updated fuel-price comparison chart at www.tfsgroup.com/ tfs/wheretobuyfuel.html...

Aug 28, 2006

TRUCKING NEWS WORLDWIDE

* USA -Schneider Nationalreceives three'Quest for Quality' awardsUSA -eTrucher, by Brittani Tingle -28 Aug 2006: --Schneider National Inc., a provider of transportation, logistics and intermodal services based in Green Bay, Wis., has been honored with Logistics Management's"Quest for Quality" awards for the 17th consecutive year... Receiving three awards this year, the company was recognized by the publication's readers for service excellence in dry freight, bulk and industrial/heavy-haul. The "Quest for Quality" survey is an annual, in-depth research study conducted to evaluate and measure transportation service providers...

* USA -Warren announces Driver of the MonthUSA -eTrucher, by Brittani Tingle -28 Aug 2006: --Warren Transport Inc. has named Jose Camacho, an independent contractor and owner-operator with the company, as the August Driver of the Month... Camacho, who resides in Texas, has been with Warren Transport since March 1997...

* USA - Greatwide introduces insurance programUSA -eTrucher, by Steven Mackay -28 Aug 2006: --Transportation giant Greatwide Logistics Services has launched a new insurance program for its owner-operators... Dubbed Greatcare, the carrier says it’s the “nation’s first fully integrated package of insurance products and related driver services.” .. The plan offers $1 million of lifetime medical coverage similar to a traditional major medical plan, but at half the cost that owner-operators typically pay...

* USA - New biodiesel hotline taking callsUSA -eTrucher, by Andy Duncan -28 Aug 2006: -- The National Biodiesel Board now has a 24-hour hotline that truckers can call to find biodiesel retailers... Michael Frybarger, a Maryland owner-operator who runs his business on a 20 percent biodiesel blend, made the ceremonial first call to 866-BIODIESEL, or (866) 246-3437, at a press conference Friday at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas...

On the road again - USA - Couples joining the ranks of truck drivers

... he misses the days when trucking was fun, when “there was noDOT (Department of Transportation) and no scales to worry about,”... JOHNSTOWN,El Paso, TX,USA -The Longmont Daily Times-Call (Longmont,CO), by Tony Kindelspire -27 Aug 2006: --John Bigbie, 78,has been driving a big rig since he was 15 years old — so this is no baby-boom retiree taking up a new line of work in his golden years...Based in El Paso, Texas, Bigbiesays he misses the days when trucking was fun, when “there was noDOT(Department of Transportation) and no scales to worry about,” but he can understand why older couples might be attracted to life in the cab of an 18-wheeler...Bigbie, however, may be wearing a bit after 63 years of putting the hammer down. He said he’d swap places any time with one of those couples attracted by the romance of the open road, his choice being to spend his time driving for R-and-R instead of a living...(Times-Call/Jackie Endsley - John Bigbie, 78, has been driving commercially for 63 years. Though Bigbie has been on the road a long time, he said he is seeing more older people, especially couples, joining him on the road)

Police - USA - Trucking company owner kills employee with shotgun

MARSHALLS CREEK, Pa.,USA -Centre Daily Times (Centre County,PA)/Associated Press -Aug. 27, 2006: -- The owner of a trucking company fatally shot an employee who had come to his home to discuss a dispute over worker's compensation and medical bills, two other employees told police... The three workers went to the Jackson Township home of Ray Anthony Velez on Friday afternoon to discuss an ongoing dispute... An argument ensued and Velez pulled a sawed-off shotgun out of his desk and fatally shot Armando Guardiola, of New York City, police said...

Production Plans - USA - Peterbilt's special 379, new cabover and engines

USA -eTrucker, by Max Heine -27 Aug 2006: --Peterbiltannounced at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas that its flagship Model 379 will go out in style with a 1,000-unit special Legacy Class Edition... the company also announced a new medium-duty cabover and new medium-duty engines...Peterbiltsaid earlier this year that it would replace the 379 with the new Model 389, which incorporates key styling elements of the 379 while introducing advanced technologies and refinements for improved aerodynamics...

Damage - Qatar - Truck drivers accused of damaging signboards

Doha,Qatar -The Gulf Times -27 August, 2006: --The Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has accused truck drivers of damaging signboards above roads...According to sources, drivers of trucks and other heavy vehicles who do not abide by the rules on maximum load and volume end up damaging the signages and direction boards...(Photo: A sign board, ostensibly damaged by trucks)

Comment - USA - Trucks do more harm than smokers

Maybe a gas mask is a good idea?...

Baxter,AR,USA -The Baxter Bulletin: From Linda Schlueter -26 Auig 2006: --I'm confused... The non-smokers have won by making the new non-smoking law. And I agree with them — even though I am a smoker...What I don't understand is why the non-smokers and smokers won't fight to the end for our beautiful clean air here in the Ozarks...These trucks can run all over our beautiful green mountains and blacken our view and stink to high heaven. Which is better? To sit down by a smoker, or stand by one of these trucks when it takes off?...

Diversification - USA - Light duty, heavy sales

Indiana-based diesel makers look to produce high-mileage engines for smaller vehiclesIndiana,IN,USA -Indianapolis Star, by Ted Evanoff/Bloomberg -August 26, 2006: --Hunt the car lots for top fuel economy and the popular choices usually are a hybrid-electric or subcompact car...In a few years, though, you might find a third option -- a 45-mile-per-gallon midsize sedan or a 30-mpg sport-utility vehicle powered by a diesel engine... What's happening is a once-in-a-century shakeup that could help diesel power catch on nationwide. It might push Indiana diesel makersCummins Inc. and International Truck and Enginebeyond work trucks and into autos, generating millions of dollars in new sales and preserving jobs...(The Star 2006 file photos, by ALAN PETERSIME - DETAILED WORK: Tammy Wise put together barrel assemblies at a Cummins plant in February. The Columbus-based engine maker, which supplies diesels for heavy-duty Dodge Ram pickups, has its sights on a smaller diesel for the everyday auto market)

Aug 27, 2006

Jobs - USA - Free automotive employment online

AutomotiveJobsOnline.com

Palm Beach, Florida -AutomotiveJobsOnline.com -26 Aug 2006: --Page setup so employers and job seekers can access and search at database, any time... provides with one central place to do all of for an online recruiting and to find potential employees nationwide...able to find automotive professionals not only locally but nationwide... website free to automotive job seekers, and employers get a free 3 month trial with unlimited Job Seeker contacts:http://automotivejobsonline.com

Aug 26, 2006

TRANSPORT NEWS WORLDWIDE

* USA -DHL opens new facility in IndonesiaPlantation, FL,USA -Tranport Intelligence -26 Aug 2006: --DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight arm of DHL, has opened a US $3 million facility in Cengkareng, Jakarta...

* UK -Culina opens new co-packing centreMarket Drayton, Shropshire,UK -The Transport Intelligence -26 Aug 2026: --Culina Logistics has established a dedicated co-packing area at its new distribution centre in the UK to meet growing demand for re-worked products from customers...

Strategy - USA - International employs high-tech for recruiting

WARRENVILLE, Ill.,USA -Truck News, by Steven Macleod -25 Aug 2006: -- In response to a number of question marks surrounding the recruitment process, International Truck and Engine employed the services of a tracking system from iCIMS to quantify hiring results... Based in Illinois, Internationalhas more than 13,000 employees spread throughout the world. High expenses and a lack of measurable results made it difficult for the company's recruiters to compare statistics among the company's various locations and create a consistent, streamlined hiring management program...The new technology has also allowed recruiters to track the efforts of the employee referral program. With a stronger referral program the company has decreased its reliance on placement agencies...

Prototype - USA - Freightliner introduces hybrid utility truck

DALLAS, TX,USA -Truck News, by Adam Ledlow -25 Aug 2006: --Freightliner president and CEOChris Patterson recently introduced a proof-of-concept prototype utility truck and discussed the company's plans to bring medium-duty hybrid vehicles to the market at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas, Texas...The Class 7 Business Class M2 106 prototype is a full-parallel hybrid, similar to hybrid electric cars, with regenerative braking designed to recharge the batteries and electric launch functionality...It has an integrated electric motor in line with the engine and transmission, enabling operation with electric or diesel power, either separately or in combination...

Study - USA - Hybrids could replace FedEx's medium duty line

DALLAS, TEX.,USA -Today's Trucking News -25 August 2006: --Stanford University Graduate School of Business is studyingFreightliner'sefforts to bring diesel hybrid electric engines to market as an alternative for applications such as delivery vans and utility vehicles...The case study highlights the joint venture by Freightliner Eaton Corp., and FedEx Express to build a fleet of delivery vans powered by environmentally friendly diesel-electric hybrids...The hybrid powertrains are said to provide significant gains in fuel economy, reduction in emissions, as well as noise pollution and engine idling on utility work trucks and walk-in vans...

Shares - USA - Cummins' & Paccar's Retreat

NEW YORK,NY,USA -Associated Press/MSN Money -25 Aug 2006: --Shares of diesel truck makersCummins Inc.andPaccar Inc. fell on Friday after an analyst downgraded the stocks on expectations of weakening Class 8, or heavy duty, truck orders...David A. Bleustein, an analyst at UBS Securities LLC, also believes there is evidence that dealers and manufacturers are building up inventories in anticipation of next year's emissions changes, which could further curtail production...A decelerating economy would probably slow any rebound in orders in 2007 and 2008, he added...

Dangerous Drivers - USA - Man struck twice by trucks on I-94

Detroit,Mich,USA -The Detroit News, by Santiago Esparza -August 25, 2006: --A man whose vehicle broke down on Interstate 94 in Ypsilanti Township this morning was struck twice by tractor-trailer trucks, Michigan State Police said...The man's vehicle broke down about 7 a.m. on eastbound I-94 and the man exited his car onto the freeway where a truck struck him, state police said. The man returned to his vehicle but got out again and was struck by another truck...State police did not have information about the man to release other than to say he was listed in serious condition at an area hospital...

Production - China - Chery tipped to move to trucks, buses

Wuhu,Anhui,China -People's Daily -August 25, 2006: --Chery Automobile, China's rising independent carmaker, is preparing for a foray into the commercial vehicles sector to speed up its expansion, according to sources familiar with the company... The carmaker has formed a commercial vehicles unit based on a failed bus plant acquired from the nation's top vehicle producer First Automotive Works Corp (FAW) at the beginning of this year, sources said...Cheryplans to start production of its own-brand commercial vehicles in 2008, aiming for an annual output of 300,000 units by 2010, sources said...

AUTOS OPINIONS WORLDWIDE

* USA - Troubles may spur sale of Ford Credit - Selling stake in finance arm is one of several optionsDEARBORN,Mich,USA -The Detroit News, by Bryce G. Hoffman -26 Aug 206: --Citing potential conflicts of interest, Citigroup Inc.executive Robert E. Rubin resigned from Ford Motor Co.'s board of directors Friday as the automaker considers a number of strategic moves, including the sale of a significant stake in its profitable Ford Credit finance arm... The potential deal involving Ford Credit and other strategic moves under discussion played a role in Rubin's decision to step down after six years on the board, where he been an influential director in recent years, according to sources familiar with those discussions...

STOCKHOLM,Sweden -Reuters/ magazine Affarsvarlden -August 23, 2006: --Investment firmIndustrivardenhas met withRenaultseveral times to express its interest in buying the French car maker's 20 percent stake in Volvo, a magazine reported today, ...citing an unnamed source, that "the Handelsbanken sphere's investment vehicle Industrivardenhas on several occasions met Renault and voiced its interest in buying its (Renault's) stake"...Volvohas been the center of speculation lately after a report that hedge fund Sandell Asset Management was trying to drum up support for a bid or pressure it to return some of its around 30 billion crowns ($4.2 billion) in cash and marketable securities...At the end of last year, the group had a net financial asset position of 23.7 percent of shareholders' equity and minority interests...

AUTOS' NEWS WORLDWIDE

* USA -Ford,GhosnChatting Up Alliance? -Bill Fordcalls Carlos Ghosn, says sick brands and family control are in playUSA -TCC/Wall Street Journal/BusinessWeek Online -23 Aug 2006: --A report Wednesday quoting anonymous sources said that Ford CEOBill Ford recently called Renault/Nissan CEOCarlos Ghosn to initiate talks about a possible alliance with the French-Japanese automaker... But in an interview with , CEOFord didn't address the alleged phone call head on, but said: "We are no stranger to alliances, but I wouldn't want to comment on anything in the future..." * France -Renault mum on report of Ford call to GhosnPARIS,France -Reuters/Wall Street Journal Europe -24 August 2006: --Renault had no comment today on a report that Bill Ford had called its CEOCarlos Ghosn to explore possible cooperation... said Ford told Ghosn that if the Renault-Nissan alliance decided not to continue alliance talks with GM, Ghosn should talk to Ford Motor Co...

* USA -Ford Thinking of Going Private?USA -TCC/USA Today-23 Aug 2006: --Whether Ford will take itself private is another question entirely, one raised again on Tuesday... Some analysts have suggested the Ford family might be interested in taking the company private by buying out shareholders, in an effort to reduce the focus on the company's business dealings and financials... A source inside the company that said the Ford family was "willing to look at anything" to speed the company's restructuring along, which could include going private in a deal that could cost as little as $14 billion...

* USA -Ford in talks to sell luxury brands to Nasser-led groupDetroit,Mich,USA -Bloomberg News/The Detroit Free Press -August 25, 2006: --Ford Motor Co. is in talks to sell some luxury-auto brands to an investment group led by former CEOJacques Nasser, four people familiar with the discussions told... The discussions focus on Jaguar and Land Rover, said one of the people, who didn't want to be identified because the negotiations are private... The talks are with JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s One Equity Partners LLC, where Nasser is senior partner for mergers and acquisition...

*USA -Toyota Cutting New Products?USA -TCC/ Wall Street Journal -23 Aug 2006: --Toyota may be slowing down the number of new products it is developing in response to an increased number of recalls... The report says the slowdown might only equal six months or so in the company's product cycle, but would be a major acknowledgement that even the world's richest car company may be expanding too fast... The paper cites several major, recent recalls including those on Tundra pickups and the Prius hybrid as influencing the discussion at Toyota . Vehicle lines that could be affected include the Sienna minivan, Avalon sedan andCamry Solara coupe... Last year, Toyota recalled 2.38 million vehicles in the U.S. , or about 120,000 more than it sold in the year...

* UK -JCB interested in buying JaguarLONDON,UK -Reuters/Financial Times -23 Aug 2006: --British construction machinery group JCB said today that it was interested in buying carmaker Jaguar from U.S. owner Ford Motor Co... A JCB spokeswoman confirmed a report in which said JCB ChairmanAnthony Bamford would only want to buy Jaguar if Ford was prepared to split the loss-making carmaker from Land Rover...

* France -Renault sales drop in first seven monthsPARIS,France -Reuters/La Tribune newspaper -23 Aug 2006: -- Car sales by French Renault dropped in the first seven months in main European markets, according to the La Tribune newspaper today...

* Mexico -VW Mexico union agrees to end strikeMEXICO CITY,MEX -Reuters -24 Aug 2006: --The union at Volkswagen's Mexico plant, which makes the popular New Beetle cars, has accepted a 5.5 percent pay and benefits package increase to end a strike that began last week, the Labor Ministry said today...

* Germany -Volkswagen in talks to sell casting plantFRANKFURT/HANOVER,Germany -Reuters -24 Aug 2006: --Volkswagen may sell a German casting plant, as part of a wider effort to cut costs, but no decision had been taken yet, the world's fourth-biggest carmaker said today...

* Germany -DaimlerChrysler to give execs only three-year termsSTUTTGART,Germany -Reuters -25 Aug 2006: --DaimlerChrysler will in future give top executives only three-year contract extensions rather than its standard five-year deals, the German-American carmaker said today...

* Japan -Nissan may build plant in North America in 2008-09TOKYO,Japan -Reuters/daily Nihon Keizai -25 Aug 2006: --Nissan Motor Co. is considering building a factory in North America in 2008-09 or later, Japanese business daily reported today, citing an interview with the automaker's co-chairmanItaru Koeda. He said Nissan has not decided if it would set up a plant in the United States or Mexico...

* France -Renault, Peugeot H1 output in France fellPARIS,France -Reuters -25 Aug 2006: --French carmakers PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault suffered a slump in car production during the first half of the year, France's car industry association CCFA said that PSA Peugeot Citroen's total group production in France fell 14.5 percent... Renault's production fell 9.8 percent with the total output in France declining by 12.7 percent...

* Turkey - Tofas H1 profit hit by delayed taxISTANBUL,Turkey -Reuters -25 Aug 206: --Turkish carmaker Tofas's first half net profit fell 65.9 percent year-on-year to 27.35 million lira ($18.5 million) due to delayed tax payments, the company said on Friday... Analysts polled by Reuters had expected a more modest 40 percent fall in net profit due to high interest and exchange rates...

AMSTERDAM,Holland -Reuters -25 Aug 2006: --Loss-making Dutch sports car maker Spyker said it was cash-flow positive for the first time since its launch in 2000 on strong demand for its tailor-made super cars...

Trenton, New Jersey,USA -The Detroit News (Detroit,Mich), by Doug Guthrie -August 26, 2006: --New demands by DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group have delayed by at least two weeks a decision on where to locate an $800 million engine factory, prompting further negotiations on a $165 million tax incentive package and giving opponents more time to organize... City officials hoped to learn this week they'd landed a 1 million-square-foot V-6 engine factory that would create nearly 700 jobs next to the Trenton Engine plant, whose products will phase out around 2010...

* Japan -Toyota's 'human brain' detects rear collisions -President Katsuaki Watanabe said the company is working on several sophisticated computer-based safety systemsOYAMA, Japan -Associated Press -26 Aug 206: --Cars equipped with the latest safety technology already warn drivers about oncoming cars... Now Japanese automakerToyota Motor Corp. says it has developed the world's first system for detecting rear-end collisions before they happen... A radar device is installed in the rear bumper to detect a vehicle approaching from behind... Sensors in the front headrests detect the position of the driver's and front passenger's heads, and shift the headrests' position to reduce the risk of whiplash injury, it said. Hazard lights also start flashing to warn the driver of a possible crash from behind... Toyota PresidentKatsuaki Watanabe said Friday that a sophisticated computer like "a human brain" will be installed in the Lexus LS luxury model going on sale in Japan in September. It will control the latest safety features such as the rear-end pre-crash system...

* USA - Suzuki Ups Ad Budget; Aims for Sales Milestone - Still Trails Giants but Expects U.S. Units to Reach 100,000DETROIT,Mich,USA -AdAge.com, by Jean Halliday -August 23, 2006: --American Suzuki Motor Corp. is about to reach a milestone. For the first time since arriving on these shores in 1985, the automaker expects to sell 100,000 vehicles this year... Suzuki had been unable to reach even 50,000 in annual U.S. vehicle sales from 1989 through 1999. This year, though, it sold nearly 65,000 units through July, up 32% from last year...

* USA - 2009? GM Announces Future Clean Diesel for Trucks and SUVsDetroit,Mich,USA -Edmunds.com/Inside Line (Santa Monica,CA) -25 Aug 2006: --General Motors said it has developed a new "clean" turbodiesel for its future pickups and utility vehicles that will boost fuel economy by 25 percent... More importantly, the engine will also meet the tough new federal emissions standards that will be phased in starting in 2010... GM released few details on the new engine, a twin-cam V8 that will use a high-pressure common-rail fuel system, as well as a NOx after-treatment system with a diesel particulate filter to meet the emission-level regulations in all 50 U.S. states...

Aug 25, 2006

Study - USA - Finds hybrid cars will pay for themselves

DETROIT,MI,USA -Reuters -August 23, 2006: --Some hybrid cars will pay for the premium added to their sticker prices because of high gas prices and tax credits from the U.S. government on the more fuel efficient vehicles... Hybrid cars and trucks, which get improved mileage in city driving by running on a combination of gas and electric power, cost between $1,200 and $7,000 more than traditional versions of the same vehicles, according to auto Web site www.Edmunds.com... But a fuel economy study byEdmunds.com showed that the scales were starting to tip in favor of hybrids... The consumer-focused Web site said that assuming vehicles were driven 15,000 miles per year and gas was priced at $3 per gallon, owners of the Toyota Prius and Ford Motor Co.'s Escape Hybrid would break even within three years... But federal tax credits for hybrid buyers are being phased out on the most popular models... Tax incentives will also be cut on other hybrids after auto makers sell 60,000 of the vehicles -- a sales threshold Toyota has reached... The tax credit on Toyota and Lexus hybrids is scheduled to drop to 25 percent in April 2007 and then be eliminated in October 2007... In another study released on Tuesday, auto industry tracking firmCSM Worldwidecited higher gas prices as one factor driving a shift toward more efficient six-speed transmissions...

PEORIA, Ill.,USA - PRNewswire -24 Aug, 2006: --Caterpillar Inc.announced today settlement of various lawsuits withNavistar International Corporation, one of the leading heavy-duty truck producers in the United States and the parent company of International Truck and Engine Corporation... Caterpillarand Navistarare building on their long- standing business relationship by signing a series of licensing and long-term supply agreements that are expected to increase business opportunities for both companies...

* Caterpillar up slightly after Navistar dealNEW YORK,NY,USA -MarketWatch, by Erica Owen -Aug 24, 2006: --Shares ofCaterpillar Inc.(CAT) rose slightly in late trading Thursday, up 0.5% to $65.80, after the machinery manufacturer announced it settled various lawsuits withNavistar International Corporation (NAV) and that the companies signed a series of licensing and long-term supply agreements... Shares ofNavistar, a heavy-duty truck producer, had yet to trade...